In 1974 when the present commonly used
format for t ting points was adopted by the IVAS there was very little
knowledge of acupuncture on the West and no understanding whatsoever of
Yin/Yang. It was a vague theory then and for most veterinaraians even now
remains a vague theory. Something Oriental and not scientific.

The Transpositional System.

They worked out their naming of the Ting points by assuming ( and thisis a big
assumption) a transposition could occur between humans and animalsespecially horses. They used comparative
anatomy, which indicates that the one digit of the horse corresponds to the
third or middle digit on the human.. So the Triple heater point is in the
middle front and others around it. This will work in practice on horses because
of the power of the ting points to cover a broad area.But its not Yin/Yang correct. In some theories the hand was 'scrunched' up to look like a hoof.

Yin and Yang

My background is from Acupuncture. I
completed my acupuncture degree in 1980. I also worked out a transpositional
system but based on Yin and Yang..

Yang is the protective energy and external
and Yin is the nourishing energy and internal.

On the foreleg the outside(lateral) is the
protective part not the front.And in
the hind leg there is no need for protection on the fore part of the leg where
the anatomical transpositional system puts it.

So the original assumption has to be
modified.

Unfortunately the veterinary anatomical
transpositional system will persist. It reminds me of the fact that Native
Americans are still called Indians because when Columbus first found them he
thought he was in India. No-one questions it anymore . But its obviously
incorrect.